Thursday, August 16, 2012

10 health tips for lazy people

Getting fit and healthy can sometimes feel like a major effort, but
there are many health-boosting changes you can make that won't feel like
such a chore:

1. Build exercise into your routine

Many of us think we need to spend hours working up a sweat at the gym to stay fit.

However, while intense workouts are beneficial, they can also be extremely off-putting and are not strictly necessary.

Research
shows that regular daily activity could be more effective than sporadic
workouts, so rather than allotting a specific exercise time a day, try
peppering your day with easy 'workouts' such as taking the stairs
instead of the lift, doing the housework, or walking to the shops at
lunch.

2. Make your own ready meals

We all
know that eating fresh, homemade produce is good for us, yet many of us
are far too tired to be whipping up a culinary masterpiece after a hard
day's work.

However, rather than falling into the trap of relying
on shop bought ready meals which may be lacking in nutritional value,
try this diet tip and make your own healthy version meals instead.

By
cooking up healthy meals in large batches at the weekend, you can be
sure to have plenty of healthy choices in your freezer for those days
when you're too lazy to cook.

3. Get a pet to improve your health

If you want big health results without making a big effort, getting a pet could be the way to go.

Multiple research studies have shown that pet owners have improved
physical and mental health, including lowered blood pressure, better
ability to cope with adverse life effects, and lowered stress levels.

For
those who need encouragement to up their fitness levels, getting a pet
dog may also provide you with that push you need to get out and get
active.

4. Exercise while watching TV

Vegging out in front of the TV can be the quickest way to pile on the pounds.

However, couch potatoes needn't despair; there are plenty of ways to keep healthy and active in front of the screen.

To boost your fitness while watching TV, try squeezing a mini-workout into each commercial break.

From
situps to skipping or a quick run up and down stairs, there are plenty
of ways to introduce activity into your TV-watching schedule.

The
golden rule is simply to keep moving, with research suggesting that even
fidgeting while sitting can burn up to 350 extra calories a day.

5. Improve your mental health with a crossword puzzle

If
you really can't find the energy to put yourself through a workout,
take the opportunity instead to work on another area of your body - your
brain.

Boosting your mental health is just as important as
improving your physical wellbeing, and luckily this can be done from the
comfort of your couch.

Research has found that frequent
participation in mentally stimulating activities can reduce your risk of
Alzheimer's disease, so rather than switching on the TV when you get in
from work, give your brain a challenge and reach for a crossword,
Sudoku puzzle or book instead.

6. Have leisurely meals

If there's one instance where being lazy is an advantage, it's when eating your meals.

Taking long, leisurely meals - as opposed to eating on the run or
multi-tasking - is a great way to look after your digestive system and
also help you lose weight.

By eating more slowly and focusing on your food, you will enjoy and savour it more and cut the risk of overeating.

Also,
as it takes 20 minutes for your body to register the feeling of being
full, by eating more slowly you will feel full after less.

7. Order a fruit and veg box

If
compiling your own healthy shopping lists feels too much like hard
work, save time and energy by letting someone else do the work.

Many
farms and health food stores now deliver seasonal fruit and veg to
local areas on a weekly basis, making it easy to try varied healthy
produce without stepping foot out your door.

Alternatively, for
those who want more and have pennies to spare, several companies now
offer the option of having prepared healthy meals delivered direct to
your home.

8. Hit the dance floor

While the idea of a workout fills many with dread, there are plenty of ways to stay fit without it feeling like hard work.

If you struggle to get motivated for an organised exercise session, try turning a night out into a workout instead.

Hitting the floor for a dance is a great way to get fit, burn calories and tone and strengthen the body.

More importantly, unlike with the gym, it provides a fun workout that won't feel like exercise.

9. Supplement your diet

Keep falling off the
healthy eating wagon? Try complementing your diet with a good quality
nutritional supplement or 'superfood'.

While it's no substitute for a healthy eating regime, on those days
when your good intentions slip by the wayside a good supplement should
help tide you over.

Try a multi-vitamin complex or a natural
"superfood" - such as spirulina, wheatgrass or bee pollen - which is
packed with nutrients to help keep your health on track.

10. Get lots of sleep

While laziness is generally considered to be detrimental to your health, when it comes to sleeping it can actually pay off.

Research
has found that sleep can help you live longer, boost your memory and
reduce stress, while getting less than five hours a night can lead to
accidents, weight gain, and increased risk of heart disease.

While
it's possible to have too much of a good thing, getting a regular eight
hour's sleep is a cheap and simple way to boost your health.